Edward “Ed” Franklin Ghent, age 92, of Matthews, NC, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 4, 2025, surrounded by his beloved wife of 69 years, Shirley Boatwright Ghent, and his devoted son, Daryl Edward Ghent.
Born on June 18, 1932, Ed was the son of Shelly Avery Ghent Sr. and Peral Bayne Ghent and the second of four siblings. He was preceded in death by his older brother and sister, Shelly “Avery” Ghent Jr. and Mary Lucille “Lucy” Ghent, and is survived by his younger brother, William “Bill” Alonzo Ghent.
Ed grew up in Hendersonville, NC, before moving to Rock Hill, SC, where he graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1950. In 1951, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and served honorably as a Sergeant until 1954.
On July 30, 1955, Ed married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Boatwright. In 1958, he began a long and distinguished career in banking as a teller with American Commercial Bank, which later became NationsBank. Over 34 years, Ed rose through the ranks to become Senior Vice President. He spent 25 of those years living in Marion, NC, where he oversaw the bank’s operations in Marion, Boone, Banner Elk, and Spruce Pine. Ed was deeply admired for his integrity, dedication, leadership, and genuine care for both his employees and his customers. He truly loved every moment of his career.
Beyond his professional life, Ed was a pillar of his community. During his years in Marion, he served on numerous boards and poured his heart into making McDowell County a better place. His many contributions included serving as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the McDowell Hospital, Chairman of the McDowell County School Board, Chairman of McDowell County Arts and Crafts Association, Chairman Of the McDowell County United Way, and Chairman of the McDowell County Habitat for Humanity. He was also president of the Kiwanis Club of Marion, chairman of the McDowell County Senior Games, and a member of the Marion Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1982, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Marion Civitan Club and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce. Ed embodied service in every sense of the word.
After retiring in 1994, Ed and Shirley moved to Charlotte to be closer to their cherished grandchildren, Daryl Edward Ghent Jr. (“DJ”) and Sarah Virginia Ghent. He treasured every moment spent with them and played an active role in their lives as they grew up.
A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Ed was deeply rooted in his faith and remained an active participant in church life wherever he lived. For the past 30 years, he was a devoted member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, serving faithfully in numerous volunteer roles.
Ed will be remembered as a man of remarkable character—honest, kind, humble, and deeply committed to his family, his faith, and his community.
A service of death and resurrection will be held at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church (238 Fort Mill Hwy, Fort Mill, SC) on Sunday, April 13th, at 2 PM. It will be followed by a reception and celebration of Ed’s life in the church’s Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Ed’s memory.